Laguna Beach City news City of Laguna Beach, California

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 2024

This Week's City Council Action:

City Council to Consider Public Art Program Ordinance at Future Meeting

On Tuesday, the City Council instructed City Staff to draft an ordinance updating sections of the municipal code to match revisions outlined in the Public Art Program Policy. Approved by the Arts Commission and recommended to the City Council in October 2021, this policy aims to modernize guidelines for the public art program. These guidelines, available online, will serve as a resource for artists, stakeholders, and the public, reflecting industry best practices.

City Council Moves Forward with Contract for Playground Master Plan

On Tuesday, the City Council continuing to move forward with an agreement with Community Works Design Group LLC (CWDG) for the Playground Master Plan. This comprehensive plan will involve community outreach, benchmark analysis, program evaluation, and capital improvement planning for nine park sites. CWDG will also conduct six community workshops to gather public input. The Master Plan, expected to take 18 months, will be presented by City Staff in the future.

City Council Adopts Urgency Ordinance and Introduces First Reading of Zoning Ordinance Amendment

On Tuesday, the City Council passed an urgent ordinance to regulate residential development in line with California Senate Bill 9 (SB 9). They also introduced an ordinance for Zoning Ordinance and Local Coastal Program (LCP) amendments. The revised SB 9 LCP Amendment will be reviewed for adoption at the March 12, 2024 meeting. This urgency ordinance ensures enforceable development standards for SB 9 projects while awaiting review by the California Coastal Commission. Once the revised SB 9 LCP Amendment is in effect, the urgency ordinance will end, and regulations for SB 9 projects will follow the amended LCP.

City Council Approves Development of 2024 Community Survey

On Tuesday, the City Council directed the Interim City Manager to prepare a community survey and retain a consultant. The City Council also approved Councilmembers Bob Whalen and Mark Orgill to a City Council ad hoc committee to collaborate with City staff and the consultant to help finalize the survey objectives and survey instrument before its release. The objective of the community survey is to gather valuable data to help the City Council make well-informed decisions regarding revenue enhancements, prioritize community initiatives, and ensure services aligned with residents' concerns.

Mayor Kempf and Councilmember Orgill to Serve on Ad Hoc Committee for Promenade on Forest Project

On Tuesday, the City Council appointed Mayor Sue Kempf and Councilmember Mark Orgill as a City Council Ad Hoc Committee to work on the Promenade on Forest design project (Promenade Ad Hoc Committee). The purpose of the Promenade Ad Hoc Committee is to work with City Staff and consultants to identify the scope and constraints of a Forest Avenue Promenade project and develop the process to advance the project through public engagement strategies. The Promenade Ad Hoc Committee will return at a future City Council meeting in April with a project update.

The Meeting for Interviews and Appointments is Re-Scheduled for Thursday, February 29 at 5:00 PM. This is an In-Person Meeting. Zoom Will Not Be Available.

Click HERE for the February 29 City Council Meeting Agenda

The Next Regular Meeting of the City Council is Tuesday, March 12 at 5:00 P.M.

The "Tentative Agenda" is strictly tentative and there is no guarantee that items listed will be agendized as scheduled due to changing priorities, new information, staff workloads, and other unforeseeable events.

March 12 Tentative Agenda

Click HERE for the City Council Tentative Agenda
The Week That Was (TW2) is an update on City business in previous weeks.
Click HERE for "The Week That Was"

New Video Podcast: Stu New's Fair Game with Tom Johnson & Mayor Sue Kempf

The City of Laguna Beach, in partnership with Stu News Laguna, is pleased to announce a new weekly video podcast featuring Mayor Sue Kempf discussing community topics, City Council action, and upcoming events. The program is called “Fair Game with Tom Johnson and Mayor Sue Kempf,” and will be available for viewing each Thursday in the City’s Community Newsletter and in the Friday edition of Stu News Laguna. Watch the first episode below!

City Council Celebrates Grand Opening of New Moulton Meadows Park Dog Play Area

On Thursday, the City Council celebrated the new Moulton Meadows Park Dog Play Area. The new Moulton Meadows Park Dog Play Area has a variety of new amenities and enhancements for the community including new benches, new fencing, a modified irrigation system, renovated turf, new landscaping, and a new asphalt path along the frontage of the dog play area. A significant contribution to the funding of the Moulton Meadows Dog Play Area was made possible by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine), who secured $300,000 in state funding for the project.

Senator Min Proposes ADU Incentives for Cities in Compliance with State Housing Goals

Click HERE to Read the Press Release
The introduction of Senate Bill (SB) 1055 by Senator Dave Min (D-Irvine) provides local jurisdictions the flexibility in ministerial approval height limits for attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) once Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) numbers are met for low and very low income categories.

The incentive would be applied only when the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) determines those targets to be sufficient under current state housing law, and allows for the streamlined approval of ADU heights to 16 feet instead of 25 feet, which is an incentive for cities seeking to maintain community character while balancing the need for greater housing supply.

“The City of Laguna Beach extends our sincere gratitude to Senator Min for his authorship and support of SB1055,” said Laguna Beach Mayor Sue Kempf. “While the City of Laguna Beach recognizes the need for affordable housing, reverting to ministerial approval of 16ft ADU's and requiring 25 ft ADU's to undergo a longstanding design review process will provide needed flexibility while achieving housing goals."
“Local control requires local responsibility. SB 1055 incentivizes cities to support the production of critically needed affordable housing and ensures that effective streamlining results in actual units of housing. I’m grateful for Senator Min’s partnership on this important legislation,” said Laguna Beach Mayor Pro Tem Alex Rounaghi.
“SB 1055 is a step in the right direction to tackle California's housing challenges while preserving our neighborhoods,” said Laguna Beach City Councilmember Mark Orgill. "By encouraging the responsible development of ADUs, we can enhance housing affordability without sacrificing community aesthetics. This bill exemplifies the balance between local decision-making and the broader goal of increasing affordable housing options for all Californians.”
Click HERE to Read the Full Press Release

Share Your Thoughts on the Future of the Laguna Beach Community Pool: Take the Survey!

On Tuesday, March 12, the City Council will review alternatives for a future community pool facility. The City would like feedback from the community regarding future aquatics programming.

Click HERE to Take the Laguna Beach Community Pool Survey
Options under consideration include joint use of a 50-meter pool planned by the Laguna Beach Unified School District at the existing site across from Laguna Beach High School, or construction of a new 25-meter pool at an alternate, undetermined location that would be built, operated and maintained by the City.

Cast Your Ballot in the 2024 Presidential Primary Election

The Community & Susi Q Center (380 3rd Street) is hosting a vote center from Saturday, February 24 through Tuesday, March 5 for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election.

Voting Center Hours:

  • February 24 - Friday March, 1: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • March 2 - March 4: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
  • March 5: 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
An additional vote center will be open at Lang Park (21540 Wesley Drive) from March 2 to March 4 from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and March 5 from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On Saturday, March 2, if weather permits, there will be street closures in the downtown area from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m due to Patriots Day parade. The voting center will be open, but there will be no vehicular access to the Community & Susi Q Center during those hours.

"Brownie" the Guinea Pig is Looking for a Forever Home ✨

Brownie is a two-year-old tri-color neutered male guinea pig who is looking for a loving home. He is friendly and would work best in a home with other guinea pig friends!

The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter adoption procedures are designed to make sure that both the potential family and the animal adopted are in the very best situation possible. The Laguna Beach Animal Shelter is located at 20612 Laguna Canyon Road. For any questions, please call (949) 497-3552.
Click HERE for More Information on Adoption Procedures!
Use the hashtag #DreamBigLaguna and share your photos of your pups with the "Dream Big" art installation! 🐶

2024 Banner Competition Designs Due on Monday

The Laguna Beach Arts Commission invites you to submit your design in the 2024 Banner Competition! Prospective designs and application materials must be delivered by March 4, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. to the Cultural Arts Department at City Hall (505 Forest Ave).

Completed banners will be displayed on lampposts throughout the City during the summer. $4,000 will be awarded for all completed banners selected.
Click HERE for More Information on the 2024 Banner Competition

Live Music at the Promenade is Back Starting Friday! 🎶

Felisha Dunne kicks off this week's music at the Promeade on Forest! (Weather permitting.)
  • Friday at 5:30 PM: Felisha Dunne
  • Saturday at 5:30 PM: Kelly Fitzgerald
  • Sunday at 5:00 PM: Andrew Corradini

Have a Fantastic Weekend! ✨

Have a Question? Click HERE to Contact the City of Laguna Beach!
Printed copies of the newsletter are available Fridays at the Community & Susi Q Center. Alternative Language Options Available Upon Request.